Photo credit: erix

Newsweek Magazine recently published an article on how to avoid household toxins.  Nena Baker, author of  The Body Toxic: How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being
the EPA and the  Environmental Working Group, has listed nine ways you can avoid household toxins:

1. Filter your water.  In addition to what the article suggests, staying away from plastic bottled water is beneficial to the Earth and body.

2.  Know whats in your grooming products. The Cosmetics Database website is highly recommended when researching common ingredients in personal care products.

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The title says it all.

“A new study finds that young children have high levels of chemical fire retardants in their blood.”

Read about it in USA Today and watch video from NBC Today Show

What do you think?  Do you think that fire retardant chemicals really pose a risk in humans, particularly children? What can we do as individuals to reduce exposure and health issues from theses chemicals?

Cocamide DEA, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide DEA and Oleamide DEA are all fatty acids derivatives that are used in the formulation of shampoos, shower gels and other soaps, hair color, lotions, skin creams and other personal care and cosmetic products. 

DEAs are used to create, increase, and stabilize foam (for soaps, shampoos, etc) and its also used as an emulsifier in other products. 

One of the concerns with DEA is that they can be mild to moderate skin and eye irritants.  Though its not classified as a carcinogen by the Environmental Production Agency (EPA), it has been reported by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) an increase liver and kidney tumors in mice from dermal exposure to DEA.

This common ingredient is banned in Europe.

More info on DEA:

Chemical Exposures: Will DEA Findings Wash?
Cynthia Washam
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1665417 Mentions potential fetal neural abnormalities in humans and also controversy on the matter on whether DEA is indeed harmful or safe.

Food and Chemical Toxicology – Abstract
ScienceDiet.com

In a previous post on parabens, I gave an overview of exactly what is a this chemical in What is a Paraben and Why is it Used?

Why should we avoid them?

Parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen which  can lead to or contribute to (if not cause) health problem such as estrogen dominance, various endocrine disorders like hypothyroid and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), infertility, obesity and the development of breast cancer.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: Agents of Subtle Change? points out that in several tests, chemicals in the paraben family displayed estrogenic activity. Since most products from shampoos to toothpaste are used on a daily basis, the level and amount of exposure can add up.  Exposure to chemicals through the skin can be especially powerful since they do not have to go through the digestive track.  Theses chemicals can remain in the tissue, especially breast tissue particularly from the use of anti-perspirants.

Chemical’s that are or mimic hormones are also bad for the environment. The EPA’s study on personal care products also states that many of chemicals used in our personal care product and pharmaceuticals are eventually leaked into sewage treatment systems and have a negative effective on marine animals.

There are a number of alternatives that are currently available at my web store at Green and Chic and other retailers.

References:

http://www.epa.gov/

http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/

http://www.terressentials.com/truthaboutparabens.html

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/ppcps.cfm

http://www.naturalnews.com/022113.html